Material handling mechanism



A ril 16,1935. N. D. LEVIN 1,991,591 MA' IERIAL HANDLING MEQI- IANISMOriginal Filed Sept. 6, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Nf/j D. Lev/n.

April 16, 1935. N. D. LEVIN MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANISM Original FiledSept. 6, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 M75 D. Lev/n.

' April 16 1935. N. D. LEVIN I 1,997,591

MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANI SM Original Filed Sept. 6, 1930 4Sheets-Skieet 3 I [NVENTOR Q //'/5 D. Lev/n.

April 16, 1935. N D L N 1,997,591

7 MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANISM Original Filed Sept. 6, 1950 4 Sheet-Sheet4 H 8 H P I I L I Elly. 7 [NVE/ITOR N/'/5 D. Levin.

Patented Apr. 16, 1935 V 1 UNlTED STATES] FATE T OFFICE HIATERIALHANDLING MECHANISM Nils D. Levin, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to TheJeffrey Manufacturing Company, Columbus, Ohio, acorporation of OhioApplie'ation'septembcr 6, 1930, Serial No. 480,216

, Renewed January 9, 1935 22 Claims (01. 1987) The present inventionrelates to a loading ma- Figure 9 is an elevation of the separableconchine, and particularly to such a machine adaptnection between thedischarge and gathering con ed tolbemoved about a mine over the minetracks veyors. r and while positioned thereon to load out mate- Figure10 is a section on line lfilii of Figure 5, i rial from thevarious'workings. and v The general characteristics of the machine ac-Figure 11 is a plan of the pony truck. cording to the presentinventionare: A truck The discharge and gathering conveyors menmounted dischargec'chveyor having a receiving tionedabove are indicated generally at Aand B, endadaptedto be positioned in proximity to the reference beinghad to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. l0 -mine track and a delivery endadapted to deliver The discharge conveyor A is the same (with some atelevated points to the rear of the truck, the additions, as willhereinafter appear) as the pit conveyor being swingable relative to thetruck car loader described and claimed in my co-pendabout both-verticaland horizontal axes; a gathering application Serial No. 386,647, filedAugust 17, ingconveyor-having its delivery'end pivoted to 1929, in theUnited States Patent Ofiice. Only a 15 and above the receiving end ofthedischarge conbrief description of this conveyor unit will thus 15vey'or for swinging movement in vertical and hori be necessary. zont'alplanes relative to the latter and for tilt- Referring particularly toFigures 1, 2, and 6, a ing movementabcut its own longitudinal axis, thetruck frame I5 is provided with wheels as at it twoconveyor's beingseparably connected; a pony and 51, adapted to engage the rails 58 of amine: 5-19 truck-adapted to be positioned beneath and placed track. Bothof the front wheels ll appear in in temporary connection with thegathering con- Figure 6, and as shown, are fixed upon an axle i9 veyorwhen them'achine is to be transported from suitably journaled .in boxessecured to frame 55. place to place in the mine; a jib mounted on theThe rear wheels [5 are similarly fixed to an axle receiving end of thedischarge conveyor and ex- 20 likewise journaled in boxes in connectionwith :5 tending above the gathering conveyor; hoisting frame I5.

tackle connecting the jib and the gathering con- Mounted on frame I5 isa frame or turntable 2! veyor; and powerdevices for operating the conforpivotal movement about a vertical pivot deveyors, for operating thehoistingdevices', for fined by ring 22, Figure 6, the ring engaging in aswinging the gathering conveyor "in horizontal circular aperture formedin a bottom wall 23 of planes relative "to the discharge conveyor 'to enframe 2|. A ring 24 superposed on ring 22 has 3!) gage it'lateraily inmaterial to be loaded out, and margins overlying the margins of theaperture of for propelling the conveyor supporting means to bottom wall23, and thus prevents any material sump the gathering'co-nveyor or totransport the bodily displacement of frame 2| relative to frame machineas a whole over the mine tracks. I5. :I; I in the accompanying drawings,I have shown A shaft 25 is journaled in bearings of frame El anillustrative embodiment of the invention, and and pivotal about thisshaft is a section 25 in ord'er'that the invention may be clearlyunderof the trough of discharge conveyor A, The destood, I shallproceedto describe it with refe'rlivery sectionZfi cf the conveyor trough ispivotal ence to these drawingsr relative to section 26 about a shaft 2!and rests on =5) In the drawings: v a bolster 28 which is verticallyadjustable on Figure '1 is aside elevation of the machine disthreadedrods 29 depending from the ends of arm posed for transportation over themine tracks, 30 fixed to the extremity of the forward portion Figure Zisan-elevation of the rear portion-of of section 26 Section 26 is inclineddownwardly the machine; and forwardly relative to the supporting truck-,1 7 Figure 33 is an elevation 'of "the forward end of and has securedto its forward end a horizontally f tire machine. extending section 26",section 26' also being sub- Figure 4 is an -'el'evation of the'medialportion stantially horizontally disposed. of the machine. An electricmotor 32, mounted on frame 2!, u e 5393 191211 of the forward portion of'th drives a counter-shaft 33 through a sprocket 5L machine. chain 34.An idler sprocket 35 engages the chain t Figure 13 is a section on line6 5 'of' Fig to hold it clear of a winding drum 6! and its con- Fi'gure'7 is a section onlin'e I -l of Figure 2. trol appurtenances? A sprocket(not shown) on i is ed elevation of certain shaft 33 engagesa sprocketchain 31, Figurefi, winding 'druin and' brake elements appearing onwhich is in driving connection with a sprocket 38 tafsmallersale inFigure 2. a freely revo'luble on shaft 25. Sprocket 38 may be.

til

placed in driving relation to shaft 25 by engagement of clutch elements39 and 48. Sprockets 4| and 42, fixed on shaft 25, engage the lower runsof conveyor chains 43 and 44 to drive the latter, these chains beingconnected by means of flights 45 which on the upper run of the chainpass over the bottom of the trough sections to propel materialtherealong.

A shaft 46 journaled in frame 2| beneath the shaft 25 has keyed on itsone end a sprocket 41 connected by means of a chain 49 with a sprocket49 integral with the hub of sprocket 36. A sheave 58 freely revoluble onshaft 45 is adapted to be driven by the latter upon engagement of clutchelements 5| and 52, this sheave engaging a universally flexible chain 53which is passed downwardly centrally of pivot ring 24 through anaperture in the top wall of frame I5 in engagement with sheaves 54 and55 beneath frame I5, and forwardly and rearwardly to engage sheaves 56and 51 fixed to axles I9 and 28 respectively. Due to the describedarrangement the discharge conveyor is not only angularly adjustablerelative to itself onaxis 21, but it is also adjustable as a wholerelative to the truck frame 2| about the horizontal axis defined byshaft 25 and the ver tical axis defined by ring 24. Further, due to theuniversal flexibility of chain 53, the truck axles may be driven fromthe motor throughout a considerable range of angular adjustment offrames I5 and 2| about pivot ring 24, the conveyor chains, of course,being operable in all positions of adjustment of the conveyor troughabout shaft 25.

Referring particularly to Figures 6, '7 and 8, shaft 46 has a reducedend 46' to which is keyed one element 58 of a clutch, this element beingsecured on the shaft by means of a cap screw 59 and washer 68. Looselymounted on shaft 46, immediately adjacent element 58, is a drum 6!having formed integral with one side wall thereof a conical flange 62for cooperation with element 58. The opposite Wall of the drum hasintegral therewith a cylindrical flange 63 with which is adapted tocooperate a brake band 64.

The hub of the drum within flange 63 is provided with a peripheralshoulder 65 which is engaged in an annular groove of a two-part sleeve66 slidable on the external surface of a sleeve bearing 61 for shaft 46.Sleeve 66 has diametrically opposite studs 68 and 69 engaged inlongitudinal slots formed in parallel arms 70 and II of a shipper memberpivoted at one end on a pin I2 mounted in a bracket fixed to the frame2|. A prolongation II of arm II is pivoted through a longitudinallyextending slot to a nut I3 which is engaged on a screw threaded portion74 of a shaft I5 journaled in frame 2| parallel to shaft 46. Shaft 15 atits ends is provided with cranks I6 and 11 so that the shaft may berotated from either side of the machine.

It will be evident that rotation of shaft I5 will cause nut I3 to travelalong threaded portion I4, thus oscillating the shipper member andcausing axial displacement of sleeve 66 in one direction or the other onshaft 46. Due to the connection between sleeve 66 and drum 6|, thelatter is forced to follow the movements of the former so that by propermanipulation of the cranks I6 and 11 the clutch elements 58 and 62 maybe engaged or disengaged. Flange 63 is sufficiently wide so as never topass out of fully cooperating relation with band 64.

Referring particularly to Figures '7 and 8, a lever I8 is fixed at itslower end on the shaft I9, which latter extends across frame 2| inparallel relation to shaft 46, this shaft being journaled in frame 2|and in the parallel walls of the bracket mentioned above, the outer ofthese walls being designated by reference numeral 88. One end of band 64engages shaft I9, while the other is secured to one end of a connectingmember 8| whose other end is pivoted to a pin 82 carried by lever I8,the pin being parallel to shaft I9 and spaced from the latterlongitudinally of the lever. It will be apparent that oscillation oflever I8 will tighten or loosen band 64, as desired. In order that theband may be held in tension, a tooth member 83 is fixed to the side ofthe frame in position to cooperate with a dog point 84 fixed to leverI8. A lever 85 is fixed to the opposite extremity of shaft 19 inparallel relation to lever I8 and the two levers are joined by a crossbrace 86 terminating in handles 81 and 88 so that the braking apparatusmay be operated from either side of the machine.

While the primary function of the described braking apparatus is tocontrol the rotation of drum 6|, it will be evident that by engagingclutch elements 5|, 52, 58 and 62, the brake apparatus may be used tobrake truck wheels I6 and I! to control the movement of the truck or tohold it stationary on the mine track. Levers I8 and 85 are of springmaterial, thus causing locking elements 83 and 84 to be engaged anddisengaged, as desired.

At substantially the junction of trough sections 26 and 26", there iserected an upright frame generally denoted at 89, this frame beingcomposed of structural steel parts. Reference numerals 98, 9|, 92 and 93denote upwardly converging angle bars having their upper ends secured toa substantially horizontal plate 94. Members 98 and 93 are joined by aplate 95, and members 9| and 92 by a plate 96, while supported on thetop edges of these web plates is a substantially horizontal plate 91.The upright members are also joined adjacent their tops by means ofgusset plates 98, 99 and I00.

To a forwardly projecting portion of plate 94 and on the undersidethereof is secured a stiffening member IOI wherein is secured in asuitable aperture a pin I82 having a head I03 disposed in an aperture ofplate 94 and resting on the margins of the aperture of member IN. Thelower end of pin I02 passes through a. forward extension of plate 91 anda stiffening angle member I84 secured to members 92 and 93 below theplate. The lower end of pin I82 is threaded and is enaged by a nut I05.

A casting I86 is journaled on pin I82 through bushings I01 and I88.Casting I86 is provided with a socket I89 at its lower extremity and atits upper end is provided with an integral arm IIO. A crane jib III hasan end seated in socket I89, its opposite bifurcated end havingjournalled therein on a pin II2, a pair of sheaves designated as H3 and3'. A frame II4 has legs journaled on the ends of pin H2 and has securedthereto, by means of adjustable nuts I I5 and I I6, the threaded end ofa tension rod III, whose other end is pivoted to arm I I8 on a pin I I8.Jib III is thus supported for swinging movement about an axis defined bypin I82 and may be vertically adjusted through adjustment nuts I I5 andOn a laterally projecting horizontal plate II9 secured to trough section26 at the lower end of frame member 98, and on the same side of themachine as drum 6 I, are mounted on vertical axes two sheaves, of whichone is shown at I28. At the loweruend of upright III a similar bracketsupporting a similar sheave, not shown, is fixed to section 26. On plate95 ismounted a sheave 'I2I, while on plate 94 mounted on vertical axesare two sheaves I22 and I23, to the latter of which a draft .device I24is adapted to be guided from sheave -rI2'I by meansof a sheave I25mounted on a horizontal axis in a bracket supported on gusset plate 88.

; In order that the forward end of the conveyor trough may be properly,supported, I have providedapair of brackets, one being shown at I28,secured to the lower ends of uprights 92 and 93 and supporting flangedrollers as at 121 on transverse horizontal pins at I23, Figures 2 and-i.The

rollers are adapted to rest upon and engage the track rail when themachine is'in loading position.

7 .At the forward end of trough section 25 and on the underside thereof.is: secured a vertical pivot member 129 which is engaged by one end ofan elbow bracket I36 which forms a mounting member for the gatheringconveyor. Bracket I33 has an-upwardly'extending expanded web portion I3Iadapted to swing about the forward end of the trough. Just above the topof the trough web I3I has secured thereto a horizontal angle bar I32 onthe lower side of 'thejhorizontal web of which is mounted a centrallydisposed lug I33. 'Ifothe end of the conveyor trough and at its top issecured a circular casting I34 having a peripheral upstanding rib I35which forms a guide for lug I33. Casting I34 and rib I35are adapted tosupport any weight imposed thereon through bar 1 I32or lug I 33. A pairof U-shaped bearing members I36 and I3! are secured to thetop of uprightportion I3I, see Figure 9.

The gathering conveyor B, see particularly lower chain guides I39 andI49 spaced apart by.

means of blocks I4I. Guides I32 and I43 are provided with opposedlongitudinal grooves in which-are engaged angle portions I42 and I43 ofa chain I44 which is flexible in planes both parallel and perpendicularto plate I33. At intervals, flights I45 are secured to chain I44 so asto propel material along and on one side or the upon the direction oftravel of the chain.

other of the chain guiding means depending plate I45 is secured to thetops of the upper chain guide members I39 and extending longitudinallyand centrally of plate It"; is an upright baffle plate I4'I.' At itsforward end plate I4? termi hates at an upright post I49 having an upperbifurcated end, Figure 3. At its rearward end the plate terminates ablock I49 in which are mounted on a horizontal transverse axis a pair ofsheaves, one being shown at I 53. Post I48 is braced by means ofrearwardly diverging wings I52. and I53 secured at their lower ends toplate I I46. The rear end of plate I4l is similarly braced by wings I54and IE5. In casting I55 at the rear end of the gatheringconveyor, and

I519 engaged by a beveled pinion IBWkeyedt'o' the end of a shaft I6 I.journaled .in a bearing 1'62, A motor IE3 is mounted on the tops of thechain guides, with its armature shaft above the central longitudinalaxis of the gathering conveyor in alignment with shaft I'dI and indriving connec tion'therewith through a coupling I64.

.The inclined portion of conveyor 13 is provided with upwardly extendingoutwardly flared side plates I and'IIiB to hold material on plate I38 asit travels up the incline, the rearward end of plate I 38 being cut awayas indicated at I6?! to permit the material to be readily discharged.Due to its disposition, gear 559 is adapted to en-i gage fragments ofmaterial above chain I to assist in discharging the same over the end ofthe conveyor.

A bracket I68 secured to the underside of plate he removed when it isdesired to separate conveyors A and B. It will be noted that pin III hasa considerable freedom of movement in an upward direction relative tomembers I36 and I3'I, this relation of the parts permitting tilting ofconveyor B about its longitudinal axis relative to mounting member 7 I36and conveyor A.

Referring particularly to Figures 1, 3,4 and 5,

the rope I24 is adapted to be engaged at one end with drum SI and thenceto be passed forwardly 'in engagement with sheaves I2I, and I25, and

between sheaves I22 and I23. Thence the rope is passed forwardly overone of the sheaves at the end of jib III, downwardly about sheave IIiII,

upwardly and around the other sheave at the end of the jib, againdownwardly about the sheave at the side of sheave I50, and upwardlyagain to have its end secured to the end of the jib as at I14. Uponrotation of drum 6I and consequenttensioning of rope I24, it will beevident .that the gathering conveyor will be swung upwardly through thedescribed rope gearing about pivot pin III. In addition, the gatheringconveyor may be swung laterally about pivot member I29, and it will beevident that due to the pivotal mounting ofjthe jib it may be swung toposition to lift the gathering conveyor in all angular relations of thelatter about pivot member I 23 to the discharge conveyor. Thearrangement of pivot member I29 and mounting member I30 is such as tomaintain the delivery end or" the gathering conveyor in proper dischargerelation to the receiving end of conveyor A to deliver to the latter inall positions of relative adjustment.

For transporting the machine from place to place, I have provided thepony truck shown in Figures 1 and ll. This truck comprises longi tudinalframe members H5 and I I6 mounted on axles III and I18 on the ends ofwhich are revoluble flanged wheels Iit. On a cross member I33 of theframe iscentrally pivoted a bolster IiiI on a vertical pin I82. MemberHE is provided with a series of perforations as at I83, in

which are engageable stop pins I84 and I85 connected by a chain I86 forconvenience of handling and to prevent loss. The stop pins are Pin I'IIisheld in position by means of cotter pins I12 and H3, which maysettable in the apertures to limit the angular V movement or" bolsterIIiI about its pivot, the ends of the holster extending across thelongitudinal frame members so that its end overlying member I16 willcooperate with the stop pins in whatever position they may be set.

The gathering conveyor B, at a point to the rear of the center ofgravity, and as here shown, directly beneath the motor, is provided witha transverse inverted trough-like member I81 which is adapted to fitover a mating raised portion I88 of bolster I8I so that when these partsare engaged relative swinging of the conveyor B will enforce swinging ofthe bolster, the latter being limitable by means of the described stops.It will be apparent that the form of members I81 and I88 is such thatwhen they are engaged, displacement of conveyor B in a lateraldirection, or in a fore and aft direction relative to the truck, will beprevented. Member I81, however, is adapted to rock on member I88 so asto permit fore and aft rocking movement of the truck relative to theconveyor. When it is desired to move the machine to a new location afterthe completion of a loading operation, the rope gearing is actuated inthe manner already described so as to swing the forward end of conveyorB upwardly about pin I'II, its weight being carried by the wheels at thefront end of conveyor A, of which one, it will be recalled; is shown atI21. The gathering conveyor is now swung about pivot member I29 intoparallel relation with the mine track, and the pony truck is placed insuch position on the track that upon lowering the conveyor, socketmember I81 will engage member I88. When the parts have been thusengaged, rope I24 is slacked off, and since the portion of conveyor Bforward of member I81 overbalances the portion to the rear thereof, thegathering end of the conveyor will pivot downwardly about member I88,lifting its rearward end and therewith the forward end of conveyor A.The end of conveyor A forward of shaft 25 somewhat overbala-nces itsportion to the rear thereof. Conveyor B serves as a lever for liftingand retaining the forward end of conveyor A for transportation. Due tothe overbalancins effect of conveyor B, it is necessary to maintainappropriate tension on rope I24 during transportation of the machine soas to keep the forward end of the conveyor at a suitable distance abovethe mine track.

It will be recalled that conveyor A, as well as conveyor B, is adaptedfor pivotal movement about a vertical axis and the two conveyors have avertical axis of articulation at pivot I29. Hence, in rounding curvesthere is a tendency for the two conveyors to buckle about the latteraxis, this tendency being restrained by stops I84 and I85 which areadjusted in accordance with the maximum swing permissible to thebolster.

In the operation of the machine, the pony truck is removed so that theforward end of conveyor A is supported on the mine track by thedescribed flanged wheels, and the horizontal forward portion of conveyorB rests on the mine floor in front of the track.

The subsequent operations will depend upon the position of the materialto be loaded relative to conveyor B. For example, if the materialextends across the working face in front of the track, conveyor B mayfirst be sumped into the material under the propelling force of truckwheels I6 and I1. Hereupon rope I24 may be retrieved from the hoistingsheaves, and if it is desired to swing the gathering conveyor to theleft, it may be passed around one of the sheaves, asat I20, across toand around the similar sheave at the other side of the frame, then abouta jack supported sheave, and thence to post I48, where its end may beanchored in the bifurcated post extremity as indicated in Figure 10.Upon tensioning of the rope through rotation of drum 6|, the gatheringconveyor will be swung to the left about pivot I29 to engage the exposedflights at that side in the material. Due to the application of themoving force to the upper end of post I48, the gathering conveyor willbe tilted to the left about its longitudinal axis, this tilting movementbeing limited by engagement of pin III with the top and bottom ofbearing members I38 and I 31 respectively. This tilting of the gatheringconveyor enables plate I38 to act as a scraper, and allows it to engageitself readily under the material to leave a clean floor. This operationis fully illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 448,626,filed April 30, 1930. v

If it is desired to swing the conveyor to the right, rope I24 isretrieved from the disposition just described, passed around sheave I20,Figure 4, around a jack supported sheave to the right of the gatheringconveyor, and anchored to post I48, as before. Motor I 63 will bereversed, and the flights at the right engaged in the material upontensioning of rope I24.

If the material to be gathered extends alongside the mine track the ropeI24 is led forwardly of the machine and trained about a jack supportedblock back to post I48, the gathering conveyor being disposed atsubstantially right angles to the receiving conveyor and extending tothat side of the track to which the material lies. This operation isillustrated in my copending application Serial No. 448,626.

Motor I 63 is located above the longitudinal axis of conveyor B so as topermit the latter to tilt equally readily in both directions. The motoris supplied with current through a cable I98 from a control device I8!mounted on plate 91 of frame 89. Motor I63 is of relatively great poweras compared to motor 32, and as has been mentioned above, is necessarilyreversible so that either the right or left hand flight section ofconveyor B may serve as the gathering section.

In addition to the relative adjustability of conveyors A and B madepossible by the described connections, it will be recalled that the twoconveyors may be entirely disconnected upon removal of pin Ill anddisengagement of rope I24 with the sheaves as at I50. This separabilityof the two conveyors is of considerable importance in that the machinemay be readily dis-assembled to this extent for transportation to themine or for transportation from above ground to below ground when themine is reached. Further, since the gathering conveyor is of inexpensiveconstruction, a number of these may be provided for selectivecooperation with a single discharge conveyor. That is to say, agathering conveyor may be placed in each of a number of rooms and asingle discharge conveyor may be moved from room to room for cooperationwith the gathering conveyors as needed.

It will be understood that the described manipulations of the machineare merely illustrative, the machine being capable of use to suit theconditions encountered. It will be further understood that I do notlimit myself to the exact structure shown and described, the inventionembracing all embodiments falling under the terms of the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a truck, ofan elongated conveyor mounted on said truck for pivotal movementrelative thereto about a horizontal axis, the receiving end of saidconveyor Qverbalanci'ng its delivery end, a gathering conveyor havingits delivery end pivoted to the receiving end or said first-namedconveyor for movement relative thereto on a horizontal axis, asupplemental truck adapted to be placed under said gathering conveyorwhen the latter iselevated, and means on the gathering conveyoradaptedto engage said supplemental truck whenthe latter isso-placed;said truck engaging means being located relative to the center ofgravity of said gathering conveyor't'ocause the receiving end of thelatter when released to overbalance its del cry-end and thus rock saidgathering conveyorabout its truck e11 gaging means to elevate'thedeli-veryfend of said gathering conveyor together-with the receiving endof said elongated conveyor! 2'. In loading apparatus, thecombinationwith a truck adapted to travel along amine track, of an elongated:conveyor pivotally' connected to said truck for movement relativethereto 'on a horizontal axis, a gathering conveyor pivoted to thereceiving end of said elongated conveyon a pony truck for supportingsaid gathering. conveyor in elevated position for transportation; andaconnection between said pony truck and said gathering conveyor forrelative movement on a transverse horizontal axis at a point rearward ofthe center of gravity of the gathering conveyor tocause the forwardportion of said gathering conveyor to move downwardly onsuch horizontalaxis and effect elevation of the receiving endof said elongated conveyorthrough the pivotal connection between the conveyors.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a support,an arcuate track extending around the forward endor the support at thetop thereof of a. gathering conveyor} mounting member comprisingian armpivoted on an upright axis to the under-"side of the forward end of saidsupport, a supporting member secured to said arm in position to rest andtravel on said track, and a pivotal connection between saidsupportingmember and said conveyor;

4*; In a loading machine, the combination with a support; of a gatheringconveyor: connected. thereto-for tilting movement-relative thereto onthe longitudinal axis of said-gathering conveyor; a post extendingupwardly from theupper: side of said gathering conveyor; and meansconizrpni's ing a draft. member connectedto said post at" a pointvertically spaced fromthe bottom portion of said conveyor to tilt theconveyor o'n-its' lon gitudinalaxis.

5. In a machine ot the class described, the combinationwith a gatheringconve or adapted to move over a mine floor, of an upright post on saidconveyor;-and means comprising a draft device connected to said post totilt the conveyor about its longitudinal axis.

6. In loading apparatus, the combination with a truck adapted to travelon a mine track, of means on the truck for receiving material to beloaded, a gathering conveyor extending laterally from the mine track andconnected to said receiving means for tilting movements on thelongitudinal axis of the gathering conveyor, and rope gearing comprisinga rope extending from one side of the truck to the other to a fixedanchor age in the mine and then to the outer portion of said gatheringconveyor to eiIect tilting of the latter on its longitudinal axis andmovement of the whole machine rectilinearly along the mine track.

is to be gathered.

a. In a loading" machine, the combination with a main conveyor section,means for supporting the same to receive material at positions adjacentthe mine floor, a gathering conveyor section pivota'lly associated withthe forward receiving end of said main conveyor section and movable overthe mine floor to gather material therefrom; said gathering conveyorsection comprising traveling conveyor-flights, and means acting on saidgath= eringconveyor eccentrically or its longitudinal 1 axis toautomatically tilt the gathering conveyor section aboutit'slongitudinally extending axi's'ari'd relative to the main conveyorsection and to have said gathering conveyor over the mine floor togather material.

9. Ina loadingmachine, the combination with awheel mountedtruck, of adischarge conveyor supported by said truck and having a horizontalportion adapted to be p'ositionedadjacent the mine floor in advance ofsaid truck, a gathering conveyor pivoted to' the forward" end of thedischarge conveyor for swinging movement in a horizontal plane andtilting movement about its longitudinal axis, and means includingpowerop erated means supportedby said truck for swinging and tiltingsaid gathering conveyor.

10.- In a loading machine, the combination with a support, of agathering conveyor connected to saidsu'pportfor swinging movement on anupright relative thereto and tilting movement about the longitudinalaxis ofsaid gathering con-- veyor, and means for swinging andautomatically tilting saidgatheri'ng conveyor.

1 1. Ina loading machine, the combination With-a Wheel mounted truclgofa discharge con veyor supported by saidt'ruck and having anon; zontalportion adapted to be positioned adjacent theniin'e fioorin advanceofsaid truck, a gath ering conveyorpivote'd' tothe forward end or thedischarge conveyor for swinging movement in a horizontal'plane and'tilting movement about its longitudinal axis, and means including powerop erated means supported by said truck for'swinging and automaticallytilting said gathering con= v'eyor. V

121 In a loading jmachine', the combination with a wheel mounted truck,of a motor on's'a'id truck, a" discharge conveyor supported by saidtruck and extending in" advance thereof, a gam ering' convey'o'npivo'tedto-the' forward end of said discharge conveyor for swinging movement ina horizontal plane and tilting movement about its longitudinal axis, andflexible draft means operatively connected to said motor for swingingsaid gathering conveyor and tilting it about its longitudinal axis.

13. In a machine of the class described, an elongated gatheringconveyor, and means to swing said conveyor horizontally about a pivotingpoint adjacent one of its ends to engage it in a mass of material andsimultaneously to tilt it toward the material about its longitudinalaxis.

14. In a machine of the class described, an elongated gathering conveyoradapted to swing over a mine floor about a pivoting point adjacent oneof its ends and means for attaching a draft memher to the other end ofthe conveyor at a point vertically spaced from the bottom portion of thelatter whereby, tension being exerted on the draft member, the conveyorwill be simultaneously swung about its pivoting point and tilted aboutits longitudinal axis.

15. In a machine of the class described, an elongated gathering conveyoradapted to swing over a mine floor about a pivoting point adjacent oneof its ends, an upright post adjacent the other end of said conveyor,and a draft device secured to the upper end of said post whereby,tractive effort being exerted on the draft device to swing the conveyorabout its pivoting point, the conveyor is simultaneously tilted aboutits longitudi nal axis.

16. In a conveyor, an elongated base plate having an unobstructedlateral edge, material engaging flights adapted to be moved over theplate along said unobstructed edge, and an upright post at the foot endof said plate to the upper end of which a draft element is adapted to beattached to laterally move and tilt the plate and engage itsunobstructed edge in material to be gathered.

17. In a conveyor, an elongated base plate having an unobstructedlateral edge, material engaging flights adapted to be circulated in anelongated orbit on said plate with the flights at one side travelingadjacent said edge, flight guiding means disposed Within said orbit, andan upright post mounted on said guiding means at the foot end of saidplate to the upper end of which a draft element is adapted to beattached to laterally move and tilt the plate and engage itsunobstructed edge in material to be gathered.

18. In a conveyor, an elongated base plate having an unobstructedlateral edge, material engaging flights adapted to be circulated in anelongated orbit on said plate with the flights at one side travelingadjacent said edge, flight guiding means disposed within said orbit, anupright elongated baffle plate mounted on said guiding means andextending along the central longitudinal line of the plate, and anupright post mounted on said guiding means at the foot end of saidbaffle plate and to the upper end of which a draft element is adapted tobe attached to laterally move and tilt the plate and engage itsunobstructed edge in material to be gathered.

19. A conveyor comprising a base plate having angularly related head andfoot portions, the foot portion normally assuming a substantiallyhorizontal position with the head portion upwardly inclined therefrom,the edges of said foot portion being unobstructed, an endless flexibledraft device mounted for travel longitudinally of said base plate, theadvancing and returning runs of said draft device being disposed side byside, guide means for the runs of said draft device mounted on said baseplate, material engaging flights on said draft device, means forcirculating said draft device, an upright elongated baffie plate mountedon said guide means and extending substantially throughout the length ofsaid foot portion along the central longitudinal line thereof, and anupright post mounted on said guide means at the foot end of said baflleplate and to the upper end of which a draft element is adapted to beattached to laterally move and tilt the plate and engage itsunobstructed edge in material to be gathered.

20. In a conveyor, an elongated base plate having an unobstructedlateral edge, material engaging flights movable over the plate alongsaid unobstructed edge, and means spaced above said plate and engageableby a draft element to move the plate laterally and simultaneously tiltit to engage its unobstructed edge in material to be gathered.

21. In a conveyor, an elongated base plate having an unobstructedlateral edge, material engaging flights movable over the plate alongsaid unobstructed edge, and means spaced above said plate at the footend thereof and engageable by a draft element to move the platelaterally and simultaneously tilt it to engage its unobstructed edge inmaterial to be gathered.

22. A conveyor comprising a base plate having angularly related head andfoot portions, the foot portion normally assuming a substantiallyhorizontal position with the head portion upwardly inclined throughoutits length therefrom, the edges of said foot portion being unobstructed,an endless flexible draft device mounted for travel longitudinally ofsaid base plate, material engaging flights on said draft device, theadvancing and returning runs of said draft device being disposed side byside, a head shaft on said head portion in perpendicular relation to thelatter, a drive wheel on said head shaft engaging the draft device, abevel gear on said head shaft above the wheel, a motor mounted on thelower portion of said head portion above the draft device and closelyadjacent thereto, said motor having a power shaft extending with itsaxis in a vertical plane including the central longitudinal line of thefoot portion, a pinion coaxial with the power shaft and adapted to bedriven thereby, said pinion engaging said gear to drive the head shaft,and an upright post adjacent the free end of the foot portion engageableat its upper end by a draft element to move the conveyor laterally andsimultaneously tilt it about the longitudinal axis of the foot portion.

NILS D. LEVIN.

